Does anyone know, does the Telephone preference service actually work???

We are constantly bombarded with phone calls from a company saying they are phoning "on behalf of Lloyds TSB" when in fact all they are trying to do is sell me broadband. I'm already registered with the TPS and our phone line is EX Directory too. This company has phoned us about 7 or 8 times already and promised to take us off their list but still they phone us! I've just logged a complaint with the TPS but will it do any good?

Does for me. I barely get any calls, and take great delight in pointing out to anyone who does thaty they're breaking the law.

A question for you though: When did you sign up? It does take a bit of time for companies to get their lists updated so they shouldn't call you. If it's recent, be patient, if it's not, I'm at a loss as to why you're still getting them.

If someone dials my number and asks for someone I don't even know, I hang up. If it is a telemarketer calling me, I hang up. If it's the same telemarketer calling me again, I tell him to piss off and then hang up.

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 2):If someone dials my number and asks for someone I don't even know, I hang up. If it is a telemarketer calling me, I hang up. If it's the same telemarketer calling me again, I tell him to piss off and then hang up.

Don't just hang up. Tell them that you'll go get the person and then leave the phone off the hook. These people get paid based on the number of calls they make and earn commission on what they close. When you keep them on the phone for any period of time, you are definitely cutting into their income. I try to string them out as long as possible.

I tell them that the person is walking in right now and to hold . . . . I then pick up the phone after a minute and tell them that they're taking a piss . . . after another minute I run the water and tell them that the person is almost done . . . then I just leave the phone off alone for a while . . . you should hear how mad they get.

In Sweden we have an online list you can sign, which eliminates you from the telemarketers' phone lists. However, this list is only respected by the more respected companies, so the only calls I get are from tiny little upstarts who have no sense of professionalism whatsoever.

The phone service providers are the worst. Now, I imagine that telemarketing can be a very frustrating job, so I try to tell the person calling that I am not interested in a polite way, instead of just hanging up. Most callers respect that, but some actually seem offended, like this one guy who actually called me stupid the other day:

Telemarketer: "Hello, I'm calling from *****, and I'd like to tell you how you can save up to 25% on your telephone bill."
Me: "No thank, I'm satisfied with the service I have now."
Telemarketer: "May I ask what service that is?"
Me: "Sure, it's *****."
Telemarketer: "But that's one of the most expensive services out there!"
Me: "I know that by know, thank you very much, but I'm satisfied with their service, and I'm not interested in changing."
Telemarketer: "But why not? You'll save money!"
Me: "Hey, you're calling me and offering me a product which I'm clearly not interested in. Isn't that enough for you?"
Telemarketer: "I'm just trying to understand, it doesn't seem very smart that you don't want to save money."
Me: "Well, I guess I'm just that stupid, then.
Telemarketer: "Yes, you are stupid," and he hangs up on ME!

I mean, come on! If I could just remember the name of the silly little company, I'd call and complain. Actually, I do find it kind of entertaining sometimes, like the one mentioned above, just because it's outrageous.

Cheers
Mats

Sure, we're concerned for our lives. Just not as concerned as saving 9 bucks on a roundtrip to Ft. Myers.

Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 7):I have had two soliticors call since I registered. I told both those idiots they were in violation and said fine is US$10,000 per call. They apologized - profusely. I have never heard from them again.

Happened to me two times, too. I repeated their number back to them (from caller ID) and start listing expensive goodies that I want. When they ask what I'm doing, I tell them I'm on the Do Not Call list and just named things I'd buy with the $10,000 fine. You're right about them apologizing and never calling back.